Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41840625›Full record

ArticleJournal of nanobiotechnology2026

Bifidobacterium breve inhibits colorectal cancer via extracellular vesicles containing formate acetyltransferase.

Yuefeng Zhang, Qian Zhang, Yue Luo, Xiaohan Li, Ruirui Zhao, Yaning Xu, Saixuan Zhang, Xinyu Bai, Haopeng Chen, Hao Li and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of nanobiotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Yuefeng Zhang *School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Qian Zhang *School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Yue LuoSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Xiaohan LiSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Ruirui ZhaoSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Yaning XuSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Saixuan ZhangSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Xinyu BaiSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Haopeng ChenSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Hao LiSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
Yanjun HongSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China. hongyj7@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Zhiyong XieSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, 66 Gongchang Road, Shenzhen, 518107, China. xiezhy@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Funding

Guangzhou Science and Technology Program 2023B03J1382Nansha Science and Technology Program 2022ZD004National Natural Science Foundation of China 82574649Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Council JCYJ20250604175304006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The gut microbiota exerts unique therapeutic advantages against CRC, and the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve (B. breve) has been extensively documented to suppress CRC initiation in murine models. Although the role of B. breve in CRC has been established, whether its extracellular vesicles (EVs), as key mediators of bacteria-host crosstalk, exert a functional impact remains undefined. Here, we aim to explore the therapeutic potential of B. breve-derived EVs (B.breEVs) and their active cargo, formate acetyltransferase (pflB), in CRC.

resultsIntegrative analysis of the curated database of human gut metagenomes cohort (GMrepo) database and an MC38 subcutaneous tumor model revealed a significant reduction of B. breve abundance in faecal samples from CRC patients and tumor-bearing mice. Administration of live B. breve or its cell-free supernatant markedly inhibited tumor growth, whereas pasteurized bacteria or GW4869-mediated EVs blockade abolished this effect, indicating that EVs are the critical effector entities. Isolated B.breEVs selectively accumulated within tumor tissue, directly triggered apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells, and elevated the proportion of IFN-γ⁺ CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in tumor while concurrently ameliorating gut microbial structure and function. Mass-spectrometric profiling identified the pflB as an important active protein within B.breEVs. Recombinant pflB selectively inhibited MC38 cell viability in vitro and significantly reduced CRC burden in vivo. RNA sequencing of tumor issue demonstrated that pflB up-regulated granzyme B, perforin1 and CTL/NK-associated transcripts, and activated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Immuno-combination studies further revealed that pflB plus anti-PD1 therapy markedly increased the infiltration of CD8⁺ CTL and NK cells, and enhanced their cytotoxicity compared to either monotherapy.

conclusionsB. breve secretes pflB-loaded EVs that reshape the intestinal micro-ecology, activate CD8⁺ CTL/NK anti-tumor immunity, directly induce mitochondrial apoptosis in malignant cells, and enhance the effects of immune checkpoint blockers to overcome drug resistance, offering a precision "probiotic-EVs-active protein" triadic intervention strategy for CRC.

Indexed as

AcetyltransferasesBifidobacterium breveColorectal NeoplasmsExtracellular VesiclesProbioticsAnimalsApoptosisCell Line, TumorGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansMiceAcetyltransferasesApoptosisBifidobacterium breveColorectal cancerExtracellular vesiclespflB

Identifiers

PMID41840625
PMCPMC13020345

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.